New in Kyoto! FUTURE TRAIN KYOTO DINER & CAFE on Abandoned Line

FUTURE TRAIN, an Innovative Restaurant in Kyoto

Kyoto’s innovative new restaurant, FUTURE TRAIN, is set to open its doors in August 2025, offering an unprecedented dining experience that combines Japan’s rich railway history with cutting-edge art and design.

Situated on an abandoned elevated rail line in the Umekoji area, the venue reimagines a disused train track as a colorful platform into the future, complete with train cars transformed into art and dining zones.

FUTURE TRAIN’s concept is "Take Me To The FUTURE," inviting visitors to imagine their own future through art, storytelling, and culinary delights.

The space is designed to feel like a platform where future-bound trains stop, with each car offering a distinct experience—from immersive art installations to casual dining.

Guests will be able to enjoy a sneak peek starting August 20, 2025, ahead of the full grand opening scheduled for late September. 

Visitors can explore the station-inspired space, where the refurbished Thunderbird train carriages serve as restaurants and art spaces, blending nostalgia with innovation.

Three Unique Cars, One Excursion

FUTURE TRAIN offers a seamless journey through three uniquely designed cars:  the front carriage is set to open in late September and will function as an art and event space, showcasing vibrant visual displays, light installations, and scheduled performances that inspire the imagination.

The main dining car, styled like a retro-futuristic train carriage, serves Kyoto-inspired dishes such as gourmet burgers, omurice, and pasta, blending traditional flavors with a modern aesthetic; and the third car provides a casual, relaxed atmosphere with bar counters, cozy booth seats, and elevated tables, making it the perfect space for enjoying a meal, mingling, and soaking in the vibrant, futuristic ambiance of the entire experience.

A Menu that Blends Kyoto Heritage & Pop Culture

FUTURE TRAIN’s menu is designed to surprise and delight, blending traditional Kyoto ingredients with a pop-culture aesthetic that’s as colorful as the space itself. Below are some of the highlights.

Gourmet Burgers & Main Dishes

Ume Mirai Gourmet Burger (Price: 3,000 Yen)
A luxurious burger featuring Wagyu beef, topped with pickled plum-shaped buns that symbolize Kyoto’s famous ume (plum). The patty is cooked to perfection, layered with Kyoto-grown vegetables, and served with a special sweet and savory Agrado Dolce sauce, creating a perfect harmony of flavors and aesthetics.

FUTURE Station Bento (Price: 2,800 Yen)
A vibrant, multi-tiered wooden box showcasing nine different mini dishes, inspired by classic station bento boxes but with a modern twist. It includes mini sandwiches, rice bowls, sweets, and more, served with a nostalgic tea in a retro cup—ideal for a portable, colorful dining experience.

Kyoto-Style Pasta and Omurice
Classic Italian favorites like pasta, infused with Kyoto ingredients such as yuzu or Kyoto-style miso, and omurice topped with unique sauces—each dish crafted to evoke both the flavors and the spirit of Kyoto’s culinary tradition.

Sweet Treats & Special Desserts

Birdie Buddy’s Fluffy Pancakes (Price: 2,200 yen)
Light and airy soufflé pancakes are decorated with Mont Blanc cream arranged into the shape of Birdie Buddy, the conductor of FUTURE TRAIN. Crafted carefully on copper plates, these pancakes are both a visual masterpiece and a fluffy delight.

Kawaii Parfait (Price: 2,600 yen)
Standing over 30 centimeters tall, this extraordinary layered parfait is filled with colorful cream, Japanese sweets like mochi and dango, and decorated with Kyoto-themed motifs. A playful and Instagram-worthy dessert that offers rich textures and flavors.

Special Cheesecake & Cake Creations
Additional seasonal cakes and Japanese-style sweets, often decorated with cute Kawaii motifs, paying homage to Masuda’s signature style.

Snacks & Casual Fare

From crispy fries to bite-sized yakitori, the casual menu complements the overall experience, making it perfect for quick bites or relaxed conversations amidst the vibrant décor. The beverage menu is equally imaginative, featuring colorful shakes inspired by traditional Japanese hues—pink, blue, and yellow—each representing the future with a Japanese twist and served in cute, eye-catching cups, priced between 1,200 and 1,500 yen.

Signature Cocktails & Mocktails

Creative drinks that incorporate Kyoto ingredients like yuzu, matcha, and sakura, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, designed to match the colourful theme of the space.

Specialized signature cocktails inspired by the train journey, featuring layered colors and artistic garnishes to create a non-stop visual experience.

A Cultural Collaboration with Kawaii Artist Sebastian Masuda

Leading this imaginative journey is Sebastian Masuda, the visionary behind Japan’s iconic KAWAII culture and creator of the famous KAWAII MONSTER CAFE. His partnership with Diamond Dining marks a rare reunion, blending his vibrant art style with Kyoto’s cultural spirit for an unforgettable experience.

Store Details:

Name: FUTURE TRAIN KYOTO DINER & CAFE
Location: Kyoto, Shimogyo-ku, 3-7 Kan-kiji-cho  (inside Umekoji Highland, connected directly to Umekoji Kyoto Nishi Station)
Pre-open: August 20, 2025
Full Opening: Late September 2025
Business Hours: 11:00–23:00 (hours may vary)
Seats: Approximately 88 seats
Reservations: Available on the official website https://www.futuretrain.jp/

Information and picture source: PR TIMES